If you own or manage a local SEO agency in Los Angeles, implementing an effective local search engine optimization (SEO) strategy is crucial for driving new customers to your client’s website and storefront. With more and more consumers using Google and other search engines to find local shops and service providers, claiming, and optimizing local business listings has become extremely important.
However, many local business owners make common mistakes that hurt their local SEO and cause them to miss out on new business opportunities. In this blog post, we will go over the top 5 local SEO mistakes to avoid making as we head into 2024 so your company can maximize your online visibility and capture greater market share.
Not Having a Google My Business Listing
The first mistake many local SEO agency in Los Angeles make is not even having a Google My Business listing set up. Google My Business listings allow customers to find their business on Google Search and Maps, view store hours and contact details, read reviews, see photos and more. These listings help businesses connect with local customers right when they are searching for products and services. If you do not have a Google My Business listing for your LA company yet, you are missing out on valuable organic visibility, so be sure to create a free listing as soon as possible.
Incomplete Google My Business Profile Information
While setting up the Google My Business account is the first step, the second critical mistake businesses make is having an incomplete profile. You will want to completely fill out all the pertinent sections in your business profile like your address, phone number, website URL, opening hours, photos, services, amenities and more. The more robust your Google My Business profile is, the more it will help customers find exactly what they need to choose your LA company over competitors.
Pro tip:link your other social profiles like Facebook and Instagram Business to your listing too to increase credibility.
Not Actively Managing Reviews
Positive online customer reviews on sites like Google My Business and Yelp are critical for establishing trust and reputation with potential customers searching for local service providers. If your LA company does not actively encourage authentic and honest reviews, make it easy for customers to leave them or respond to them properly, you could be hurting your local SEO efforts. Make sure to claim key review sites, respond professionally to all reviews, and even consider promotions to generate more 5-star ratings.
Lacking A Responsive Mobile-Friendly Website
With most local searches happening on smartphones, another crucial mistake LA business owners make is not having a modern, responsive, mobile-friendly website. Google favors websites optimized for all devices, so follow the SEO Success Guide 2024 to either build or optimize your existing site for mobile browsers and smaller screens. This will enhance compatibility, site speed/performance and your mobile SEO so more local customers can easily find your business.
Not Building Links to Your Website
The final common local SEO mistake businesses in LA make is failing to build quality external links from relevant websites back to your own site. Inbound links remain one of the top 3 ranking factors for Google and getting authoritative sites in your industry and location to link back to your website pages with your target keywords can be a game-changer for local visibility. Therefore, do not neglect local link building. Consider tactics like getting listed in relevant LA directories, partnering with local businesses for cross-linking opportunities, contributing as a guest author to local publications, sponsoring local events/teams to earn links on their websites, and more.
Stop Making These Mistakes with Help from Topit Marketing – An Award-Winning SEO Company providing premium local SEO services in Los Angeles.
Want to improve your local SEO results and eliminate these common mistakes LA businesses make? The digital marketing professionals Top IT Marketing can help. As a top-rated SEO agency in Los Angeleshaving won multiple awards and recognition like Best SEO Company from top B2B review sites like DesignRush and Clutch, Topit Marketing provides top- notch local SEO services in Los Angeles to boost clients’ local search visibility, website traffic, and sales conversions.
From optimizing Google My Business listings to modernizing websites to building high quality backlinks across the web to managing online reviews and more – Top it Marketing offers comprehensive solutions for LA business owners who want to stop making preventable local SEO mistakes holding them back from realizing their true revenue potential in 2024 and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I improve my local SEO ranking?
Optimize your Google My Business listing, get quality local backlinks, and ensure consistent NAP information across all online platforms.
How important is local SEO for my business?
Local SEO is crucial for your business because it helps you connect with nearby customers actively searching for products or services you offer, driving foot traffic, phone calls, and website visits, ultimately boosting sales and revenue.
Are there any penalties for incorrect local SEO practices?
Yes, engaging in incorrect local SEO practices can result in penalties from search engines, leading to lower rankings or even removal from search results.
